Product Description

From Al Roker to Carnie Wilson, for some surgery is the only option. Over 65,000 people a year have weight loss surgery and the numbers are growing. After years of yo-yo dieting and years of failing to lose weight, many people turn to surgery to deal with health-threatening weight problems.

The Patient's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery tells you everything about this increasingly popular procedure. With an overview of the risks of obesity and some alternative weight-loss methods, the book also contains:

• Detailed information on the four different types of weight loss surgery
• The risks and negative aspects of the procedures
• Coping with the emotions that accompany a change in body image
• Case histories, a resource guide to doctors and hospitals, insurance information, and much more.

In short, The Patient's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery will help everyone and anyone considering the surgery make a truly informed decision.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #217950 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-31
• Released on: 2004-04-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781578261659
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
April Hochstrasser, PhD, is a speech pathologist in a school district near Tacoma. In 1999, she underwent weight loss surgery.

Customer Reviews

Uniformed, misinformed, book does great disservice !
I have just finished reading The Patient's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery. This is the most incomplete and misleading publication I have every read on weight loss surgery! I am appalled at the minor attention given to certain subjects (A PAGE AND A HALF !) on the "Positive Aspects of Weight-Loss Surgery" pg. 44)..........and a whole chapter on the NEGATIVE ASPERCTS?

In the page-and-a-half devoted to "positive aspects", there in not one word of mention about the single biggest and most phenomenal effect of the surgery: cure or major lessening of diabetes and its terrible effects.The focus seems to be on body image (fountain of youth), an attitude every knowledgeable person associated with bariatric surgery discourages. This is a procedure for health and mental well-being, not vanity.

The Personal Stories" section is outrageous. The stories here are goulish, and almost all are so negative that most readers would be influenced with a picture of this subject akin to a horror story. I have never seen a collection of first-person accounts on this subject anywhere that is so negatively balanced. Where are the stories of uncomplicated and total success that are included in almost any other publication on the subject and all over the internet?

I am, frankly, infuriated that I spent my hard-earned money on this almost useless book and the statement on the back cover that "It is the most current and relaible source of information for anyone who wants to make an informed decision about gastric bypass and bariatric surgery" is laughable. It worries me this book may be the only one that some poor prospective patient out there will read and the book has done a disservice to any reader.

If you want good information, save your money.

Scary for pre-op patients
I have read numerous books on the weight loss surgery beforehand and I have to say this is the worst one. It is scary to read preop. It focuses on the death rate (which if you are considering this surgery you already know it) but the author goes into detail about it.
It makes you feel like a failure that you need this surgery. It repeatedly lists that after time you will basically gain back 50% of the weight back.
It devotes a whole chapter to negative aspects of the surgery but not much info on the positive aspects of it.
The only good thing about this book is the weight loss surgery quiz.

Extremely informative and helpful!
This book was extremely informative and helpful. You need to read it if you are thinking about weight-loss surgery. It laid out the various procedures in a way that anyone could understand. The best part was the section containing testimonials from many individuals who have had both good and bad experiences. You know exactly what to expect and how it might affect you life: personal, work, friends, social, self-image, energy levels, eating enjoyment, and general well-being aspects were all addressed. This is a must read for anyone considering weight-loss surgery.